U.S. patent number RE38,842 [Application Number 10/086,221] was granted by the patent office on 2005-10-25 for vacuum cleaner bag docking assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Oreck Holdings, LLC. Invention is credited to William G. Fish, Charles F. Malone.
United States Patent |
RE38,842 |
Fish , et al. |
October 25, 2005 |
Vacuum cleaner bag docking assembly
Abstract
For use with vacuum cleaner bags of the type having a
substantially rigid collar surrounding the bag opening, and with
vacuum cleaners of the type having a dirty air outlet nozzle, a
vacuum bag docking assembly is shown and described. The assembly
incorporates an anchor member having a central opening for closely
receiving the dirty air outlet nozzle. The assembly also
incorporates a mounting member which engages the collar on the
vacuum bag to secure the bag to the bag mounting member. The bag
mounting member is pivotally connected to the anchor member, and
moves between a loading position in which the bag can be inserted
or removed from the mounting member, and a working position in
which the bag opening engages the dirty air outlet nozzle.
Inventors: |
Fish; William G. (Gulfport,
MS), Malone; Charles F. (Huntsville, AL) |
Assignee: |
Oreck Holdings, LLC (Cheyenne,
WY)
|
Family
ID: |
22318045 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/086,221 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
107710 |
Jun 30, 1998 |
06033451 |
Mar 7, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
55/374; 15/350;
15/351; 55/376; 55/377; 55/378; 55/DIG.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
9/1427 (20130101); Y10S 55/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
9/14 (20060101); A47L 005/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;55/374,376,377,378,382,DIG.2 ;15/350,351 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pham; Minh-Chau T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Setter Ollila LLC
Claims
We claim:
1. A vacuum cleaner bag docking assembly for use with a vacuum bag
having a substantially rigid mounting collar surrounding a bag
opening and a vacuum cleaner having a dirty air outlet nozzle
configured to project through the bag opening and into the vacuum
bag; the assembly comprising: an anchor member having a central
opening therein for closely, releasably receiving the dirty air
outlet nozzle; and a mounting member releasably coupled to the
anchor member to retain the anchor member in engagement with the
dirty air outlet nozzle, the mounting member having a portion
thereof for engaging the collar to secure the vacuum bag to the
mounting member for movement therewith; the mounting member having
an opening oriented for registration with the bag opening; the
mounting member pivotally connected to the anchor member for
movement between a loading position in which the vacuum bag is
inserted or removed from the mounting member and a working position
in which the bag opening engages the dirty air outlet nozzle.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the dirty air outlet nozzle has
an engagement section for receiving the anchor member; the anchor
member is composed of a resilient material; and the anchor member
has an entrance channel continuous with the central opening and a
neck at a point along the entrance channel that is narrower than
the engagement section, the anchor member being sufficiently
resiliently deformable when the mounting member is disengaged
therefrom to permit the anchor member to be mounted on or removed
from the dirty air outlet nozzle and sufficiently rigid when the
mounting member is engaged therewith to restrict the anchor member
from being removed from the dirty air outlet nozzle.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the loading position is
separated from the working position by an angle greater than 90
degrees.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting member is
substantially planar, the anchor member is substantially planar,
and the anchor member is constructed to have a shape complementary
to the opening in the mounting member so that the assembly is
substantially planar when in the working position.
5. The assembly of claim 4 further comprising a latch operable to
releasably retain the assembly in the working position.
6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the latch comprises a protrusion
extending from the edge of the anchor member that engages the
opening in the mounting member when the assembly is in the working
position.
7. A vacuum cleaner bag docking assembly, as claimed in claim 1,
for use with vacuum cleaner bags having a retainer opening in the
collar, the assembly comprising: a protuberance on the mounting
member positioned to be received by the retainer opening in the
collar to hold the bag in place after insertion.
8. The assembly of claim 7 for use with a vacuum cleaner bag having
the retainer opening positioned on a sliding panel in the collar
and wherein the protuberance located on the mounting member such
that removal of the collar from the mounting member while the
protuberance is engaged with the retainer opening causes the
sliding panel to move from an open position in which dirt is
permitted to enter and exit the bag opening to a closed position in
which dirt is prevented from entering or exiting the bag
opening.
9. An upright vacuum cleaner comprising: a handle assembly, at
least a portion thereof comprising a dirty air conduit; .Iadd.a
vacuum bag;.Iaddend. a dirty air outlet nozzle mounted to the
handle assembly, the nozzle communicating with the dirty air
conduit and projecting from the dirty air conduit for engagement
with a vacuum bag; an anchor member having a central opening for
closely, releasably receiving the nozzle, the anchor member being
sufficiently deformable to permit the central opening to be engaged
with or removed from the nozzle; and a mounting member releasably
connected to the anchor member and movable between a loading
position in which the vacuum bag is inserted into or removed from
the mounting member and a working position in which an opening in
the vacuum bag engages the nozzle, the mounting member restricting
deformation of the anchor member when connected thereto to restrict
the anchor member from being removed from the nozzle.
10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the loading position is
separated from the working position by an angle greater than 90
degrees.
11. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a latch operable to
releasably retain the assembly in the working position.
12. A vacuum cleaner bag docking assembly, as claimed in claim 9,
for use with vacuum bags having a retainer opening in the collar,
the assembly comprising: a protuberance on the mounting member
positioned to be received by the retainer opening in the collar to
hold the vacuum bag in place after insertion.
13. The assembly of claim 12 for use with a vacuum cleaner bag with
the retainer opening positioned on a sliding panel in the collar
and wherein the protuberance is located on the mounting member such
that removal of the collar from the mounting member while the
protuberance is engaged with the retainer opening causes the
sliding panel to move from an open position in which dirt is
permitted to enter and exit the bag opening to a closed position in
which dirt is prevented from entering or exiting the bag
opening.
14. A vacuum cleaner bag docking assembly, as claimed in claim 1,
for use with vacuum cleaner bags in which the collar has opposing
side margins, an end margin, and corner portions between the end
margin and the opposing side margins, and in which at least one
corner portion is beveled at an angle to the end margin and the
adjacent side margin; the bag docking assembly comprising a portion
which closely conforms to the at least one corner
portion..Iadd.
15. A vacuum cleaner bag comprising: an air-permeable bag having an
opening; and a collar attached to the bag surrounding the opening,
the collar having an end edge, a first side edge, a second side
edge opposing the first side edge, an orientation surface, and a
recess adjacent the end edge, wherein the first and second side
edges are in a generally vertical orientation during use, the end
edge is in a generally horizontal orientation during use, the first
and second side edges are free from the bag, the orientation
surface comprises an angled surface extending from the first side
edge to the end edge, and the orientation surface is adapted to
orient the opening of the bag..Iaddend..Iadd.
16. The vacuum cleaner bag of claim 15, wherein the orientation
surface comprises a chamfered corner of the
collar..Iaddend..Iadd.
17. The vacuum cleaner bag of claim 15, wherein the collar includes
a second orientation surface extending from the second side edge to
the end edge..Iaddend..Iadd.
18. The vacuum cleaner bag of claim 15, wherein the collar further
includes a retainer opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
19. The vacuum cleaner bag of claim 15, wherein the collar further
includes an elastic seal surrounding the bag
opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
20. The vacuum cleaner bag of claim 15, wherein the collar further
includes a sliding panel that slides between an open position and a
closed position over the bag opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
21. The bag of claim 20, wherein the collar further includes a
positive stop limiting the movement of the sliding
panel..Iaddend..Iadd.
22. The vacuum cleaner bag of claim 20, wherein the collar further
includes a retainer opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
23. A bag for receipt in a mounting member having a channel and a
first orientation surface, the bag comprising: an air-permeable bag
having an opening; and a collar attached to said bag surrounding
said opening, said collar having an end edge, a recess adjacent
said end edge for surrounding a retainer member of the mounting
member, a first side edge, a second side edge opposing said first
side edge, and a second orientation surface, said second
orientation surface extending from said first side edge to said end
edge, said second orientation surface being complementary to the
first orientation surface of the mounting member, wherein said
second orientation surface is adapted to orient said opening of
said bag upon contact with the first orientation surface of the
mounting member..Iaddend..Iadd.
24. The bag of claim 23, wherein said second orientation surface
comprises a chamfered corner of said collar..Iaddend..Iadd.
25. The bag of claim 23, wherein said collar further includes a
retainer opening for engagement with the mounting
member..Iaddend..Iadd.
26. The bag of claim 23, wherein said collar includes a third
orientation surface extending from said second side edge to said
end edge..Iaddend..Iadd.
27. The bag of claim 23, wherein said collar further includes a
sliding panel that slides between an open position and a closed
position over the bag opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
28. The bag of claim 27, wherein said collar further includes a
retainer opening for engaging the mounting
member..Iaddend..Iadd.
29. The bag of claim 28, wherein said retainer opening is adapted
to engage the mounting member such that a force necessary to move
said sliding panel is less than a second force necessary to
disengage the mounting member from said retainer opening of said
collar..Iaddend..Iadd.
30. The bag of claim 27, wherein said collar further includes a
positive stop limiting the movement of said sliding
panel..Iaddend..Iadd.
31. The bag of claim 23, wherein said collar has a thickness less
than the channel of the mounting member channel..Iaddend..Iadd.
32. A vacuum cleaner assembly comprising: a dirty air outlet
nozzle; a vacuum bag having a substantially rigid collar
surrounding a bag opening; a bag docking assembly mounted adjacent
the dirty air outlet, the bag docking assembly comprising: an
anchor member having a central opening for closely, releasably
receiving the dirty air outlet, the anchor member being
sufficiently deformable to permit the central opening to be engaged
with or removed from the dirty air outlet, and a mounting member
releasably connected to the anchor member and movable between a
loading position in which the vacuum bag is inserted into or
removed from the mounting member and a working position in which an
opening in the vacuum bag engages the dirty air outlet, the
mounting member restricting deformation of the anchor member when
connected thereto to restrict the anchor member from being removed
from the dirty air outlet..Iaddend..Iadd.
33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the loading position is
separate from the working position by an angle greater then 90
degrees..Iaddend..Iadd.
34. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the mounting member is
substantially planar, the anchor member is substantially planar,
and the anchor member is constructed to have a shape complementary
to the opening in the mounting member so that the assembly is
substantially planar when in the working
position..Iaddend..Iadd.
35. The assembly of claim 34 further comprising a latch operable to
releasably retain the assembly in the working
position..Iaddend..Iadd.
36. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the latch comprises a
protrusion extending from the edge of the anchor member that
engages the opening in the mounting member when the assembly is in
the working position..Iaddend..Iadd.
37. The assembly of claim 32 further comprising a retainer member
attached to the mounting member for engaging the retainer opening
in the vacuum bag..Iaddend..Iadd.
38. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 9 wherein the vacuum bag
further comprises a collar having two opposing sides margins, an
end margin, and corner portions between the end margin and the
opposing side margins, and in which at least one corner portion is
beveled at an angle to the end margin and the adjacent side
margin..Iaddend..Iadd.
39. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the substantially rigid collar
further comprises opposing side margins, an end margin and corner
portions between the end margin and the opposing side margins, at
least one of the corner portions being at an angle with respect to
the end margin and the adjacent side..Iaddend.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention is directed to a bag docking assembly and, more
particularly, to an assembly for docking a vacuum bag in the proper
orientation for engagement with a dirty air outlet nozzle on a
vacuum cleaner, and for retaining the vacuum bag in the position of
engagement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vacuum cleaners, such as upright vacuums, remove dirt from a carpet
by creating a suction strong enough to draw the dirt particles from
a section of the carpet up into the vacuum cleaner where the dirty
air is passed through a vacuum bag in which the entrained dirt is
captured. To increase the efficiency of this process, a base
portion of the vacuum cleaner often has a roller brush for
agitating dirt from the carpet as it is being vacuumed.
Inside the vacuum cleaner, a dirty air conduit transfers the dirty
air from the base of the vacuum cleaner to the vacuum bag. The
dirty air conduit runs up a handle assembly or, in cases where the
dirty air conduit is rigid, the dirty air conduit can itself
function as a portion of the handle. At the end of the dirty air
conduit opposite the floor there is a dirty air outlet nozzle where
the dirty air exits from the dirty air conduit. The vacuum bag is
attached to the dirty air outlet nozzle.
The vacuum bag has a bag opening that fits closely over the dirty
air outlet nozzle. The vacuum bag is otherwise a completely closed
bag that is made from a porous material that allows air to flow
through it, but which is too fine for most dirt particles to pass
through. As dirty air passes through the vacuum bag, the air is
forced through the porous material and the dirt is trapped in the
bag. The bag thus collects the dirt from the dirty air and, more
importantly, from the floor. Because the material of the vacuum bag
is often fragile and can get very dusty, the vacuum bag is commonly
held within a protective outer bag.
The outer bag is typically placed over the dirty air outlet nozzle
first, with the dirty air outlet nozzle extending through a hole in
the outer bag. A clip is then forced over the dirty air outlet
nozzle between the outer bag and a protrusion on the outer surface
of the dirty air outlet nozzle. The clip retains the outer bag in
the proper position for use. Finally, the vacuum bag is placed over
the remaining length of the dirty air outlet nozzle, and the outer
bag closed.
To eliminate the need for emptying or cleaning the vacuum bag after
it has collected dirt, vacuum bags have been modified over the
years to be disposable. This allows the user to merely discard the
dirty vacuum bag and replace it with a new, clean one. To adapt the
vacuum bags for easy replacement, the bags have been designed so
that the bag opening can be releasably engaged with the dirty air
outlet nozzle.
One common vacuum bag design incorporates a reinforced area, known
as a collar, surrounding the bag opening. The collar is usually a
square or rectangular piece of thin cardboard. To install the
vacuum bag, the user holds the collar by one or more edges, and
forces the bag opening over the dirty air outlet nozzle. The collar
can be designed with an elastic seal extending inward from the
circumference of the bag opening to further seal the gap between
the dirty air outlet nozzle and the bag opening.
Two primary problems exist with disposable vacuum bags. First,
because the disposable vacuum bag is designed to be held within the
outer bag, the dirty air outlet nozzle is often positioned deep
within the outer bag and is hidden from sight. The user can
initially look into the outer bag and see the dirty air outlet
nozzle; however, when the vacuum bag is partially positioned for
engagement with the dirty air outlet nozzle, the vacuum bag
interferes with whatever unobscured view the user had of the dirty
air outlet nozzle. As a result, the vacuum bag must be installed
entirely be feel. Installing a vacuum bag by feel increases the
possibility that the bag opening will not be properly aligned with
the dirty air outlet nozzle when the installer pushes the collar
onto the vacuum cleaner. If the collar is not aligned properly,
forcing the collar onto the dirty air outlet nozzle can bend or
break the collar. A vacuum bag with a bent or broken collar is more
likely to leak or disengage during operation.
Another problem associated with disposable vacuum bags is that the
vacuum bag is not held firmly to the dirty air outlet nozzle. The
collar is often held onto the dirty air outlet nozzle by a small
protrusion or a thin tab of cardboard. When the vacuum cleaner is
turned on, the air rushing into the vacuum bag tends to urge the
collar in a direction of disengagement from the dirty air outlet
nozzle. As the vacuum bag fills, the pressure increases and,
consequently, so does the force on the collar. If the collar is
damaged during installation, or if the cardboard tab is not strong
enough, the bag can disengage during operation, allowing dirty air
to fill the outer bag. This results in the outer bag, which is not
disposable, becoming soiled with dust and dirt.
Numerous different collar arrangements have been designed to retain
the collar over the dirty air outlet nozzle. See, for example, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,092,915 to Lackner; U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,455 to Lackner;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,460 to Bosses; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,486 to
Jacob et al. These designs generally incorporate protrusions on the
dirty air outlet nozzle that engage with the collar. The
interference between the protrusions and the collar retains the
collar on the dirty air outlet nozzle. As with the traditional
designs, if the collar is damaged, the vacuum bag can still leak or
disengage from the dirty air outlet nozzle.
One invention, U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,298 to Bosses, attempts to solve
the problem of aligning the vacuum bag with the dirty air outlet
nozzle by adding an additional layer on the surface of the collar.
The additional layer has a large, circular opening. The user can
lightly press the face of the collar against the dirty air outlet
nozzle and move the collar around until the dirty air outlet nozzle
falls into the gap created by the additional layer. This lets the
user know that the collar is in the proper position to be pressed
against the dirty air outlet nozzle. This design does not
incorporate any additional features to help retain the collar on
the dirty air outlet nozzle.
One attempted solution to the problems of both alignment and
retention is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,038 to Kopko et al.
This invention is designed for use with a vacuum cleaner having a
rigid housing surrounding both the vacuum bag and the dirty air
outlet nozzle. A hinge is integrally formed to the inside of the
housing. A mounting plate holding the vacuum bag by its collar is
attached to the hinge, and pivots to engage and disengage the
vacuum bag from the dirty air outlet nozzle. The hinge is designed
with positive stops to prevent the mounting plate from rotating too
far. When the mounting plate is rotated to the point of engagement,
the collar on the vacuum bag seals with the dirty air outlet
nozzle. When the mounting plate is rotated to the point of
disengagement, a user accessing the unit from the back of the
housing may remove the vacuum bag from the mounting plate and
replace it with a new one.
One problem associated with the Kopko et al. invention is that it
is limited to use on vacuum cleaners having rigid housings. Without
a rigid housing, the invention does not provide or suggest any
place to attach the hinge. Another problem is that the hinge is
designed with positive stops at the rotational limits. The mounting
plate is thus only free to rotate over a limited angle. This limits
the number of orientations in which the invention may be
applied.
A need therefore exists for an improved bag docking assembly for
aligning a vacuum bag with a dirty air outlet nozzle, and for
retaining the vacuum bag in the position of engagement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved
bag docking assembly for aligning a vacuum bag for engagement with
a dirty air outlet nozzle on a vacuum cleaner, and for retaining
the vacuum bag in the position of engagement. The invention also
serves to retain an outer bag to the vacuum cleaner. The invention
is directed to a vacuum cleaner bag docking assembly for use with
vacuum cleaner bags of the type having a substantially rigid
mounting collar surrounding the bag opening. The assembly
incorporates an anchor member and a mounting member.
The anchor member serves to attach the bag docking assembly to the
vacuum cleaner. The anchor member can be a substantially flat piece
of plastic having a central opening for closely receiving the dirty
air outlet nozzle on the vacuum cleaner. The central opening can
have a shoulder for engaging a rim or similar protrusion formed
about the perimeter of the dirty air outlet nozzle. One edge of the
anchor member can have a first hinge member.
The mounting member can also be fabricated from a piece of flat
plastic. The mounting member can have side walls, an end wall, and
channels about a portion of its perimeter for engagement with the
edges of the collar. The mounting member has a central opening
corresponding to the location of the opening in the vacuum bag when
the collar is engaged with the mounting member. One edge of the
mounting member can have a second hinge member complementary to the
first hinge member on the anchor member.
During operation, the anchor member can be slid over the dirty air
outlet nozzle with the central opening in the anchor member closely
fitting around the perimeter of the dirty air outlet nozzle. The
edge having the hinge member is preferably oriented at the bottom.
The resilient material of the anchor member is forced beyond a rim
or similar protrusion on the dirty air outlet nozzle, and the rim
holds the anchor member in place against the handle assembly of the
vacuum cleaner.
The mounting member is pivotally connected to the anchor member by
engagement of the first and second hinge members. The mounting
member is free to rotate over an angle of approximately 180
degrees, from the point where the mounting member abuts the anchor
member (the working position) to the point where the mounting
member abuts the vacuum cleaner handle. At some point between the
two angles, the mounting member is in a position that is convenient
for the insertion and removal of the bag collar from the mounting
member (the loading position).
When the mounting member is in the loading position, the bag collar
can be inserted or removed from the mounting member while in plain
view of the user. The edges of the bag collar slidably engage the
channels in the mounting member and the channels retain the collar
in the proper location and orientation to engage the dirty air
outlet nozzle. When the mounting member is rotated into the working
position, the bag opening engages the dirty air outlet nozzle.
Because the mounting member holds the collar in the proper
orientation for engagement, the user does not need to align the bag
with the dirty air outlet nozzle. The user can merely pivot the
mounting member against the anchor member and thereby engage the
bag with the dirty air outlet nozzle.
In another embodiment, the opening in the mounting member is
adapted to closely receive the anchor member when the assembly is
in the working position. A latch can retain the mounting member
against the anchor member, thereby retaining the vacuum bag in the
position of engagement with the dirty air outlet nozzle. The latch
can be a resilient protrusion extending from the perimeter of the
anchor member. When the mounting member is pivoted to engage the
anchor member, the protrusion is forced through the opening and
retains the assembly in the working position.
In yet another embodiment, the anchor member can have an entrance
channel along one of its edges and a reduced neck portion between
the entrance channel and the central opening. In this embodiment,
the anchor member engages the dirty air outlet nozzle from a
transverse direction, with the resilient neck portion distorting
around the dirty air outlet nozzle. Once the dirty air outlet
nozzle is engaged with the central opening, the neck returns to its
original shape and retains the anchor member in place.
In still another embodiment, the side walls and end wall of the
mounting member intersect at opposing corners. At least one of the
corners is chamfered to have a portion thereof set off at an angle
to both the side wall and end wall. The collar is fabricated with a
complementary profile so that the user is assured that the collar
is engaged with the mounting member in the proper orientation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a vacuum cleaner incorporating a bag
docking assembly according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of a vacuum cleaner bag and a
vacuum cleaner incorporating a bag docking assembly according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of a bag docking assembly
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a bag docking assembly according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a partial section view as viewed along Section 5--5 of
FIG. 3 of the anchor member of a bag docking assembly according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a partial section view as viewed along Section 6--6 of
FIG. 3 of the mounting member of a bag docking assembly according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a partial section view as viewed along Section 7--7 of
FIG. 3 of the mounting member of a bag docking assembly according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a vacuum bag collar according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a vacuum bag collar according to yet
another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward a vacuum cleaner bag
docking assembly for docking a vacuum cleaner bag in the proper
orientation for engagement with a dirty air outlet nozzle on a
vacuum cleaner, and for retaining the vacuum bag in the position of
engagement. Many specific details of certain embodiments of the
invention are set forth in the following description and in FIGS.
1-6 to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. One
skilled in the art, however, will understand that the present
invention may have additional embodiments, or that the invention
may be practiced without several of the details described in the
following description.
FIG. 1 shows a bag docking assembly 10 according to one embodiment
of the present invention in a position of engagement with an
upright vacuum cleaner 12. The vacuum cleaner 12 has a base 14 and
a handle assembly 16. In this embodiment, a portion of the handle
assembly 16 is a hollow tube serving as a dirty air conduit 18. The
dirty air conduit 18 connects the base 14 with a dirty air outlet
nozzle 20. The dirty air conduit 18 can also be independent of the
handle assembly 16. The bag docking assembly 10 is preferably
removably attached to the dirty air outlet nozzle 20. A protective,
outer bag 22 can be positioned around both the dirty air outlet
nozzle 20 and the bag docking assembly 10.
FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a vacuum bag 24 positioned to
engage the bag docking assembly 10, and the bag docking assembly 10
positioned to engage the dirty air outlet nozzle 20 on the vacuum
cleaner 12. The vacuum bag 24 has a bag opening 26 through which
dirty air enters the vacuum bag 24 for collection of entrained
dirt. The bag opening 26 is surrounded by a reinforced collar 28.
The bag opening 26 can also be surrounded by an elastic seal 30 to
create a more air-tight seal when the vacuum bag 24 is engaged with
the dirty air outlet nozzle 20. The vacuum bag 24 may also be
designed to have a sliding panel 32 that slides between an opened
position and a closed position over the bag opening 26 to prevent
spillage when the vacuum bag 24 is disengaged from the vacuum
cleaner 12. A retainer opening 34 is located on the sliding panel
32 to provide a grip for retaining the collar 28 and for moving the
sliding panel 32.
The bag docking assembly 10 incorporates an anchor member 36 and a
mounting member 38. The structure and operation of both the anchor
member 36 and the mounting member 38 are discussed in detail below.
Generally, the anchor member 36 retains the bag docking assembly 10
to the vacuum cleaner 12. The mounting member 38 is pivotally
attached to the anchor member 36. The mounting member 38 pivots
between a loading position, in which the collar 28 of the vacuum
bag may be engaged or disengaged with the mounting member 38, and a
working position, in which the bag opening 26 engages the dirty air
outlet nozzle 20.
FIGS. 3 and 4 best illustrate one embodiment of the bag docking
assembly 10. The anchor member 36 preferably takes the form of a
substantially flat member composed of resilient material,
preferably plastic, that is molded to have a central opening 40 for
engaging the dirty air outlet nozzle 20. The central opening 40 in
the anchor member 36 is larger than the dirty air outlet nozzle 20
to allow the dirty air outlet nozzle 20 to pass through the central
opening 40 in the anchor member 36. In one embodiment, a portion of
the central opening 40 is adapted to have a shoulder 42. The
shoulder 42 forms a recess which closely and captively receives a
complementary elevated portion on the dirty air outlet nozzle 20,
such as a rim 43, a protrusion, or a flange.
In the preferred embodiment, the anchor member 36 is constructed to
have an entrance channel 44 at one point about the perimeter of the
anchor member 36 to allow the anchor member 36 to be inserted over
the dirty air outlet nozzle 20 from a transverse direction. The
entrance channel 44 is contiguous with the central opening 40 in
the anchor member 36, and is separated from the central opening 40
by a reduced neck 46. The neck 46 is resilient enough to deform as
it passes over the dirty air outlet nozzle 20 and return to its
original shape once fully engaged. The neck 46 thus holds the
anchor member 36 to the dirty air outlet nozzle 20.
To install the preferred embodiment, the anchor member 36 is first
positioned adjacent the dirty air outlet nozzle 20 with the general
plane of the anchor member 36 on the side of rim 43 closest to the
handle assembly 16. The anchor member is slid in a direction
transverse to the dirty air outlet nozzle 20 until the dirty air
outlet nozzle 20 is completely engaged with the central opening 40.
The anchor member 20 is then urged against the rim 43 until the
recess in the shoulder 42 closely contacts the rim 43. The outer
bag 22 can be interposed between the anchor member 20 and the
handle assembly 16 to urge the anchor member 20 against the rim 43,
or other biasing means can be substituted (FIG. 1).
In the preferred embodiment, the mounting member 38 is formed of a
plastic that has been injection molded into a substantially planar
body. The mounting member 38 is formed with an opening 52 that is
positioned to correspond with the bag opening 26 when the collar 28
of the vacuum bag 24 is retained within the mounting member 38 in
the proper position for engagement with the dirty air outlet nozzle
20 on the vacuum cleaner 12 (FIG. 2), as discussed in more detail
below. In the preferred embodiment, the opening 52 in the mounting
member 38 is large enough to engage the perimeter of the anchor
member 36.
The mounting member 38 can be pivotally attached to the anchor
member 36 by a hinge structure, such as a first hinge member 48 on
the anchor member 36 and a second hinge member 58 on the mounting
member 38. The mounting member 38 can rotate over an angle of up to
180 degrees between the point where it contacts the anchor member
36 and the point where it contacts the handle assembly 16. A latch
mechanism, such as a protrusion 50 (FIG. 5) and a material
receiving notch 56 (FIG. 7) can be utilized to retain the mounting
member 38 against the anchor member 36, i.e., retain the mounting
member 38 in a working position, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
Portions of the perimeter of the mounting member 38 can have one or
more channels 54 for slidably receiving the edges of the collar 28
on the vacuum bag 24. The thickness of the channel 54 is slightly
larger than the thickness of the collar 28 to allow the user to
easily slide the collar 28 onto and off of the mounting member
38.
The perimeter of the mounting member 38 may also have a retainer
member 60 (FIG. 6) that extends from the perimeter of the mounting
member 38 toward the center of the opening 52. The retainer member
60 is positioned to engage the retainer opening 34 in the collar 28
of the vacuum bag 24.
In another embodiment, the mounting member 38 is shaped to receive
a collar 28 having a chamfered comer 64. The collar 28 in this
particular arrangement has two opposing side margins and an end
margin connecting the two side margins (FIG. 8). One or both of the
corners between the side margins and the end margin can be
chamfered 64. The mounting member 38 can be formed with one or more
corresponding chamfered corners 62.
During operation, the bag docking assembly 10 is engaged with the
dirty air outlet nozzle 20 on the vacuum cleaner 12. The outer bag
22 can first be positioned over the dirty air outlet nozzle 20, and
the bag docking assembly 10 is then positioned to hold the outer
bag 22 in place.
The anchor member 36 can be installed by first positioning the
central opening 40 in the anchor member 36 directly over the dirty
air outlet nozzle 20. The anchor member 36 is then pressed so that
a protrusion or a rim 43 on the dirty air outlet nozzle 20 is
forced through the central opening 40 in the anchor member 36. The
shape of the central opening 40 in the anchor member 36 is close
enough to the shape of the dirty air outlet nozzle 20 that the rim
43 on the dirty air outlet nozzle 20 retains the anchor member in
its proper position for operation. The engagement of first hinge
member 48 with second hinge member 58 prevents the entrance channel
44 from distorting, locking the anchor member 36 onto the dirty air
outlet nozzle 20.
The anchor member 36 can also be installed by having the engagement
section 44 engage the dirty air outlet nozzle 20 from a transverse
direction. The neck 46 is forced over the dirty air outlet nozzle
20 and resiliently recovers its original shape, holding the anchor
member 36 onto the dirty air outlet nozzle 20. The rim 43 on the
dirty air outlet nozzle 20 prevents the anchor member 36 from
sliding off of the end of the dirty air outlet nozzle 20.
The mounting member 38 is pivotally attached to the anchor member
36 by the engagement of the first hinge member 48 and the second
hinge member 58. In the preferred embodiment, where the first hinge
member 48 is positioned for use at the bottom of the anchor member
36, the pivoting axis is substantially horizontal. Consequently,
the mounting member 38 can rotate to a vertical orientation, as
shown in FIG. 1, in which the second hinge member 58 is at the
bottom, i.e., into the working position. From the working position,
the mounting member 38 can rotate 180 degrees to a position in
which the second hinge member 58 is at the top of the mounting
member 38. Between these two positions, the mounting member 38
pivots through a number of orientations in which the mounting
member 38 is directed away from the handle assembly 16 and toward
the opening of the outer bag 22. In at least one of these
positions, defined as a loading position, a user can remove a full
vacuum bag 24 from the mounting member 38 and replace it with a new
vacuum bag 24. The loading position can be separated from the
working position by an angle greater than 90 degrees.
The vacuum bag 24 can be engaged with the bag docking assembly 10
by inserting the collar 28 between the channels 54 on the mounting
member 38. When the vacuum bag 24 is fully engaged with the
mounting member 38, the bag opening 26 aligns with the opening 52
in the mounting member 38. When the bag docking assembly 10 is
rotated into the working position, the bag opening 26 aligns with
and engages the dirty air outlet nozzle 20.
In one embodiment, the collar 28 is formed to have a sliding panel
32 that can move between an open and a closed position across the
bag opening 26 (FIG. 6). The retainer member 60 has a substantially
hemi-spherical portion 61 at its distal end having a beveled front
edge 63 that engages the retainer opening 34 when the collar 28 is
fully engaged with the mounting member 38. The engagement of the
retainer member 60 with the retainer opening 34 operates to close
the sliding panel 32 over the bag opening 26 upon removal of the
vacuum bag 24 from the mounting member 38. When the user removes
the vacuum bag 24 from the mounting member 38, the hemi-spherical
portion 61 of the retainer member 60 resists the force exerted by
the user. The force necessary to move the sliding panel 32 is less
than the force necessary to disengage the retainer member 60 from
the retainer opening 34. As a result, the sliding panel 32 remains
stationary as the collar 28 is removed from the mounting member 38.
Once the sliding panel 32 is fully closed over the bag opening 26,
a positive stop 66 in the collar 28 prevents the sliding panel 32
from sliding further. At this point, all of the force exerted by
the user is transferred to the retainer member 60. This additional
force frees the retainer opening 34 from the retainer member 60 and
disengages the vacuum bag 24 from the mounting member 38.
In another embodiment, the collar 28 has a recess 65 constructed to
surround the retainer member 60 when the collar 28 is engaged with
the mounting member 38 (FIG. 5). The collar 28 does not have a
sliding panel 32. Consequently, the recess 65 prevents the retainer
member 60 from interfering with the collar 28.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific
embodiments of the invention have been described herein for
purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without
deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly,
the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.
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